Backup arrived a few minutes after some time closed off the café with yellow caution tape. The customers at the scene were escorted by medics for a health inspection. The crime scene was recorded by the forensics unit, and flashes of cameras were surrounding the body.
"What a fuckin' mess," a stern voice joked. "Didn't think you'd have the guts to shoot someone."
I laughed bitterly. "Watch your mouth, Riri. You're gonna be next."
"Not the best time for jokes, asshole." Henry Harpy chuckles. "By the way, I'll need your witness statement later."
"Noted"
Henry walked to the forensics unit, and I made my way to Renee, who was taken for inspection. The sun started setting, which made the entire sky burn a dark orange. Renee sat on a seat outside of the café, so I sat beside her. She flinched. She sat in silence as she held tightly onto the blanket that was over her shoulders. I know she was shaken by the experience. She's probably a little traumatized, so I didn't initiate a conversation.
"Thank you," she whispered in a voice so soft I almost couldn't hear her. "You've changed."
I didn't answer, letting her know I was willing to listen.
"You're different now. More open." She smiled at me briefly before looking back down. "But also more spiteful."
I nodded in agreement. I agreed with everything she said. As usual, she had a great judge of character.
"Your father told me about your… incident," Renee said. I wasn't too surprised. Since Tibby couldn't shut up, I knew she would investigate me. "Were you two close?"
When she asked me that, I noticed my hands were trembling. Were they like that the whole time? I was reluctant to answer Renee, but I forced myself to reply.
"We were."
"I see."
She looked at me for a moment, then she started giggling. I blushed and looked down. When did she get this cute? Wait, no, snap out of it Yuri, she has a boyfriend.
"W-what?" I asked.
"You've grown up, that's all."
Had I? Or was I just better at hiding the parts of myself that still clung to the past?
We sat in silence, watching the sunset. I couldn't help but glance at her. Her skin reflected the radiant beam of red from the sky, and her eyes glowed their natural blue colour.
Soon after, a white limousine pulled up at the scene. The Escalade had a beautiful blue lining on the outside, and as the door opened, I got a peak of the interior. It looked prestigious, like something you would see in the movies. The man who ran out of the car started coming towards us.
"Renee?!" the man wailed.
"Dad!" replied Renee.
Kent Racer founded Racer Law, the nation's most pristine and distinguishable law firm. My dad and Kent were childhood friends, and since they lived so close to each other even after they grew up, it naturally made Renee and I childhood friends, too.
I watched as Mr. Racer patted down his daughter as if he wasn't sure if she was just a spectre from the afterlife. He was soon relieved by Renee telling him that she was fine, all thanks to me.
Mr. Racer walked up to me, commenting on how he hadn't seen me for years, and invited me to have tea sometime with the family. He thanked me like crazy for saving his daughter from the armed robber. I tried to deny my role but Renee's exaggerated recounting of my "heroic" actions put me in the spotlight.
Mr. Racer shook my hand and promised me that he would one day pay me back for what I did, then he and his daughter walked to their car and it drove off.
I took my P30 out of its holster. The carbon frame was cool to the touch. It always shocked me that just one pull of a trigger can kill someone in a second, but keeping someone alive takes so much time and skill. I put the pistol back in its holster and took a deep breath, breathing in the night sky.
***
After the case, the following month was quite uneventful in comparison. The investigation had led to a search of the perpetrator's residence and personal effects. Vacuum-sealed packages of heroin were all over his person as well as his room. The packages were identical in weight, ready to be sold whenever. It seems like the investigations of the café robberies have evolved into a possible drug trafficking case.
I was organizing the paperwork on my desk. This is boring. If there is an omnipotent being somewhere out there, please give me some sort of excuse to not do this.
"Detective Yuren," my dad called to me in a serious tone. He looked kind of upset, but I'd rather be scolded than organize my paperwork. "I need to talk to you about something."
Yes! Thank you, lord!
"What is it?" I replied.
"Do you remember Petals?"
If I recall correctly, the name of the deceased café robber was David Petals. David was a second-year university student studying history. Henry is currently investigating the case, so I really didn't know more than that. Why did my dad ask me out of all people?
"I don't think I'll ever forget," I answered dreadfully.
He sighed and handed me a file.
"What's this?" I muttered, flipping it open. The first thing that caught my eye was the name: David Petals.
My chest tightened. The name was like a trigger, pulling me back to the confrontation that had ended in a man's death. My hand hovered over the first page, the words blurring together as my pulse quickened.
"You're being sued," said my dad.
What. The. Fuck?
"Don't worry," He comforted me. He never did that when I was a kid. "The police force is behind you. They are paying for all of your fees for the court."
He told me not to worry, but I was worried.
"I don't even have a lawyer," I ranted.
"You remember Kent? Renee's father?" He asked.
"Yeah, I talked to him a few weeks ago."
"He offered to send one of his lawyers to defend you in court. Your appointment to meet her is the day after tomorrow."
"Wait, hold on a minute," I started. "Even if I ignore the court fees, I still can't afford to pay for a lawyer!"
"You won't need to. He offered to send you one for free. Something about… repaying a favour?"
Repaying a favour, huh? I guess I should be glad that Renee was in danger, as twisted as it sounds. But then again, if Renee wasn't there, I wouldn't have been there either. I contemplated whether to be thankful or whether to blame her.
I walked back to my desk and started to examine the file. I could feel my stomach spinning. I've never been sued before. Why did this happen to me? The guilt wrapped around me, crushing me with a weight I had never felt before. I felt like a critter, helplessly trying to escape the wrath of reality.
"You doing okay, Sarge?"
I glanced up to see Tibby standing in the doorway, a coffee cup in each hand. His face was a mixture of sympathy and nervous energy, the kind that made my own discomfort feel more tolerable.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, closing the file.
Tibby shrugged, handing me one of the coffees. "Figured I'd stick around. You know, in case you needed backup. Or company."
I huffed a small laugh, taking a sip. "Backup for what? My desk isn't going to arrest itself."
"Maybe not, but that's not just any file, is it?" Tibby nodded toward the folder. "I heard about the lawsuit. Figured it might've been…" He trailed off, scratching the back of his neck.
"Yeah, it is," I admitted. "Petals. His family's coming after me hard."
"Do you think they've got a case?"
"It doesn't matter what I think," I said, my voice sharper than intended. I softened when I saw Tibby flinch. "Sorry. It's just… complicated. I didn't pull that trigger because I wanted to."
"You don't have to explain it to me, Sarge. I know you."
I raised an eyebrow. "Do you?"
Tibby smiled sheepishly. "Maybe not, but I've got a good feeling about you. And…" He hesitated, then pushed forward. "And I think you need to stop blaming yourself for something you had no control over."
I didn't respond right away. Instead, I stared at the file, my mind replaying every moment of that day. The shouts. The gunshot. The silence that followed.
"Thanks, Tib," I said finally. "But I think I need to figure that out on my own."
Tibby nodded, retreating toward the door. "Fair enough. But if you need someone to bounce things off of, you know where to find me."
As the door clicked shut, I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. The file was still there, daring me to open it again. Instead, I shoved it into my drawer and locked it. Not tonight.
Later that evening, after leaving the law office, I trudged home, my thoughts a tangled mess.
When I opened the door, the smell of Brooke's cooking wafted through the air. She was in the kitchen, wearing her favourite oversized hoodie, humming to herself as she stirred something in a pot.
"Hey, you're back late," she said without looking up. "Dinner's almost ready."
"Thanks," I muttered, dropping my keys on the counter and slumping onto the couch.
She finally turned to face me, her brow furrowing. "What's up with you? You look like you've seen a ghost."
I hesitated for a moment before blurting it out. "I'm being sued for the murder of David Petals."
Brooke's spoon clattered into the pot as she stared at me, wide-eyed. "Wait, the kid from a month ago? The one that was going to kill Renee?"
"Well, we don't know for sure if he was actually going to kill her, but, yeah."
Her disbelief was almost palpable. She leaned against the counter, crossing her arms. "You're kidding, right? This has to be some kind of joke."
"I'm serious, Brooke. Ask Dad if you don't believe me. He handed me the file."
She narrowed her eyes at me, searching for any hint of a lie. When she found none, her expression softened into sympathy.
"Wow. Okay. So, what are you going to do?"
"You remember Renee's dad?"
Brooke thought for a moment. "Mr. Racer, right? The one who always brought buffalo wings to our summer barbeques?"
"Yeah, that's him. He's offering me a free defence attorney for me."
After a moment of silence, Brooke let out a low whistle. "Man, the universe loves screwing with you, doesn't it?"
I snorted. "Tell me about it."
She handed me a plate, her expression softening. "Well, whatever happens, don't let it throw you off your game. You've got enough on your plate already."
"Thanks, Brooke."
"Anytime. Now eat before it gets cold. If this lawsuit's going to keep you busy for a while, at least have a nice meal first."
I laughed, the tension in my chest easing just a little. Somehow, Brooke always knew how to make things feel a little less impossible.
***
The next morning, I made sure to dress as professionally as I could. I was rocking a pearl white suit, with a solid black tie. I used three sprays of my favourite cologne and went downstairs for breakfast. Bacon, eggs, and a bagel. Yum.
A little later, I headed to Racer Law, which was located downtown. The firm had sent over the details—something about meeting my lawyer to go over the lawsuit. I wasn't thrilled about it. Legal proceedings weren't exactly my strong suit, and the thought of rehashing everything made my stomach turn.
The office was a sleek, modern building, all glass and steel. Too polished, I thought, for the kind of mess I was bringing through the door. The receptionist barely glanced at me before directing me to a conference room on the top floor.
I stepped inside, my footsteps muffled by the thick, grey carpet. The room was empty except for a table, a few chairs, and a binder labelled with my name. I sat down, trying to shake the sense of unease crawling up my spine. Whoever my lawyer was, they were taking their time.
The door opened behind me, and I turned, ready to introduce myself. The words caught in my throat. Standing there, in a sharp suit and heels, was someone I hadn't seen in years. Someone I thought I'd never see again.
"Yuri?"
My heart skipped a beat. She was just as beautiful as I had remembered.
It was Karina Kana.
It must have been a surprise for her too, as she dropped the notepad she was fidgeting with. Elegantly, Karina picked up the notepad and sat across from me. As she sat, we locked eyes, and I was bracing myself for what she would say next.
She cleared her throat. "I've reviewed the details of the case. The Petals family's lawyers are pushing for a settlement, but I think we can fight this."
What? After seven years of not seeing each other, you're not even going to acknowledge me?
As she opened a notebook and prepared to take notes, I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of nostalgia. This wasn't how I'd imagined reconnecting with Karina, but maybe—just maybe—this was exactly what I needed. But it wasn't what I wanted.
"Karina," I said, my voice lower than I intended, "do you think I'm guilty?"
Her pen froze mid-note. For a moment, all I could hear was the faint hum of the air conditioning. Why did I care what she thought? I guess I just wanted to know what she thought of me, after all these years…
But, like a professional, Karina deflected my question.
"Do you think you're guilty?" she asked, finally meeting my eyes. Her gaze was sharp, cutting through me in a way that only she could.
I crossed my arms and leaned against the desk, trying to keep my composure. Seeing Karina here, of all places, felt like the punchline to some cruel joke the universe was playing on me.
"What are you doing here, Karina?" I asked, my tone sharper than I intended.
She tilted her head, her calm expression masking whatever storm was brewing behind her eyes. "I am here about the case."
I scoffed. "Yeah, I got that loud and clear. I meant what are you doing HERE, in Racer Law?"
"I work here," she answered patiently. "After finishing law school, I immediately applied to all the best firms in the country, and I got a position at Racer Law."
"And you didn't think to drop by and say hi?" I shot at her.
Sighing, she responded to me. "Am I obligated to?"
Huh. I guess not. Why was I even upset that I didn't know she was here? She's her own person, and I should've respected that. It's not like I would even be relevant in her life now anyway. What's done is done.
"I guess not," I began, trying my best to apologize. "Sorry for being rude. It's a surprise for me to see you, though."
I knew she could tell that I wasn't sincere, but I guess she didn't care."
"It was a surprise for me too," She chuckled. Her smile hadn't changed tin he past seven years. "When I saw the name on the file, I thought it was just a coincidence. Who would've thought you would become an enforcer of the law?"
I smiled bitterly. "Yeah, it was sort of a last-minute decision."
After our exchange, a silence followed. I noticed that Karina got a tattoo on her neck that she didn't have before. The tattoo read 2022.01.13, which I was certain was a date for something. I looked back up to her eyes and noticed that she was already looking at me. I darted my eyes away. I couldn't stand to look at her, but I didn't know why.
"So," I began. "About the lawsuit?"
"David Petals' family isn't backing down," She began. "You knew that already, did you not? They are trying to get any information they can about you."
"They think digging into my life is going to change the facts?"
Her eyes softened, and for a moment, I almost believed she was here as a friend—not a lawyer. "It's not just about the incident anymore. They're going after your decisions, your history—everything. They're trying to build a narrative, Yuri. One where you're the villain."
I felt my jaw tighten. "That's ridiculous. They have the footage. They know I didn't have a choice."
She sighed, and for a second, I saw the Karina I used to know—the one who could calm me down with just a look. "Yuri, this isn't about the truth. It's about perception. They'll try to bury you in the court of public opinion before this even gets to trial."
Her words struck a nerve, but I wouldn't show it. I leaned forward, resting my palms on the desk. "And what's your plan, huh? Also, why should I trust you, of all people, to fix this? You want me to just hand over my life to you?"
Her eyes narrowed, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of frustration. "I didn't come here to fight with you, Yuri. I came here because I know how this system works. And because—whether you believe it or not—I don't want to see you lose everything over this."
I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. "Why should I trust you? After everything that's happened between us, why should I believe you've got my back now?"
She flinched, but her gaze didn't waver. "Because you don't have a choice," she said softly. "And because despite everything… I still know you better than anyone else. Let me help you. Don't make the same mistake twice, Yuri."
Her words hung in the air, heavy and unshakable. I looked away, staring at the far wall like it could offer me answers. My chest felt tight, my mind racing.
"I don't know if I can do this, Karina," I muttered.
She stepped closer, her voice dropping to almost a whisper. "You can. But you don't have to do it alone. Not this time."
I clenched my fists, unsure if it was out of anger or desperation. "I'll think about it," I said finally, keeping my tone neutral.
Her expression didn't change, but I could see a flicker of relief in her eyes. "That's all I'm asking, Yuri. Just… think about it."
With that, she got up from her seat.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Yuri. hopefully."
She gave me one final smile. and walked away, leaving me alone with my thoughts—and the weight of everything she'd just said.
Don't make the same mistakes twice, Yuri.